RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
A COWBOY’S SWEETHEART (Rodeo Academy Book 1) by Crista McHugh is a YA contemporary romance. To be honest, I requested this book by mistake because I am not interested in YA books, but this author pulled me in with her writing, setting and characters. I had to finish the whole story and I enjoyed it.
Kensington “Kensi” Pope is a spoiled, NYC society rich girl. Her jet-setting parents provide her with all the money and things she wants until a party gets out of hand. She is exiled to her aunt and uncle’s Rodeo Academy in Wyoming. The one activity Kensi does truly love is being a champion dressage rider, but can she be ready for her next international competition on a ranch set up for training rodeo competitors?
Javier Cruz is working hard on the ranch to prove himself, but it is an up-hill battle. When he turns eighteen, he wants to gain guardianship over his younger brothers who are in foster care after a horrific crime occurred with his parents. He takes one look at the spoiled rich girl and knows she is trouble, but as he gets to know her, he realizes there is more to Kensi than meets the eye.
Kensi and Javier begin to open up to each other, but trust is not easy. Kensi has a plan to return to NY after her competition and not the ranch, but she is finding she actually feels loved and a part of a family on the ranch. When tragedy strikes her cousin, will Kensi just go back to her old life, or will she make a place for herself with her Wyoming family?
This is an entertaining romance for any young adult who loves a sweet, clean, love story, horses and ranch life. It is also good for those who like a clean read. This book, though not an actual cliffhanger, does leave some questions unanswered for readers to follow the series both in Kensi and Javier’s relationship and all the other family members. I also enjoyed the ranch setting and that it may bring in other styles of horse competitions in the future. This is a well written start to a new series.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
